TankBud

Ludwigia repens

Also known as Creeping Primrose-willow, Red Ludwigia, Ludwigia natans

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Ludwigia repens (Ludwigia repens)
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
19.7 in
50 cm
Growth rate
Fast
Placement
Background
Type
Stem
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
3–12 dGH
Spread
2.8 in (7 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Onagraceae
Origin
Southern United States and Central America

Overview

Ludwigia repens is a beginner-friendly, red-tinged stem plant for the background.

Did you know

The red in Ludwigia repens works as a kind of sunscreen. Under strong light it builds red anthocyanin pigments to protect itself, so the intense color hobbyists prize is a useful stress signal.

Caring for Ludwigia repens

Plant Ludwigia repens one stem at a time in the background. It roots readily from its leaf nodes, so even broken pieces establish easily. It feeds through both roots and leaves, so root tabs and a liquid fertilizer both help.

It grows green under medium light without CO2. For orange and red tones, give it medium to high light and good iron and micronutrient dosing. Added CO2 helps it grow faster. Keep the water between 72 and 82°F (22 to 28°C).

It grows fast, to about 50 cm. Top it and replant the cut tops to thicken the stand, and the stumps send out side shoots. Trim before it gets too tall, because lower leaves can drop when the upper growth shades them.

Good to know

Ludwigia repens belongs to the evening primrose family, Onagraceae. Like other Ludwigias, it carries opposite leaves on the stem. The leaf underside often flushes red while the top stays greener, a hallmark of the species. It is sold under many trade names and is easily mixed up with Ludwigia palustris and the various red Ludwigia cultivars.

In the wild

Ludwigia repens is native to the southern United States and into Central America. It grows in slow streams, ponds, ditches and swampy margins. It is a marginal plant that creeps and roots along wet ground when emersed and grows upright when submersed. Emersed leaves tend to stay green, while the submersed form develops the olive-to-red color it is grown for.

Common questions

Does Ludwigia repens need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Strip the leaves from the lower part of each stem, then push the stems into the substrate one at a time, a little apart.

Does Ludwigia repens need CO2?

No, but it helps. Ludwigia repens can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Ludwigia repens need?

Ludwigia repens wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Ludwigia repens need root tabs?

They help. Ludwigia repens takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate Ludwigia repens?

Ludwigia repens propagates by cuttings and side shoots. Cut off the top of a stem and replant it, and the stump left behind grows new shoots. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and plant it on its own.

How tall does Ludwigia repens grow?

Ludwigia repens grows to about 19.7 in (50 cm) tall. It grows fast, so expect to trim it often.

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